Building the Shield: AI and Automation in Public Sector Transformation - Dan Wilkens - Episode 153

Digital connectivity in regional Western Australia remains one of the state's toughest challenges. This week, Sarah McCall, Principal Policy Officer, Office of Digital Government, Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Stephanie Milan, Manager, Regional Digital Solutions, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development explore what it will take to shift the dial - from infrastructure investment to the priorities that deserve funding first. But connectivity alone isn't the answer: affordability, devices, and digital skills are equally decisive barriers to inclusion. The conversation also looks at designing digital government for the realities of low bandwidth, outages, and offline use, and why local hubs and community partners are critical enablers of access and capability — pointing to a path built on place-based investment and genuine co-design with regional communities. Sarah McCall, Principal Policy Officer, Office of Digital Government, Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Stephanie Milan, Manager, Regional Digital Solutions, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

AI delivers the most value when it sharpens human judgment - not when it tries to replace it. This week, Kenneth Kicia, Chief Information Officer, Florida Department of Corrections looks at how leaders can position AI as a practical decision-support layer, helping teams move faster and smarter without handing over responsibility. Kenneth breaks down which decisions benefit most from AI-assisted insight, how executives set clear guardrails for AI-driven recommendations, and what it takes to keep human accountability front and centre when AI informs outcomes. It also covers how to build trust in AI outputs across teams through clarity, consistency, and the right oversight. Kenneth Kicia, Chief Information Officer, Florida Department of Corrections For more great insights head to www.PublicSectorNetwork.co

Montgomery County is treating AI as a practical capacity multiplier for local government—helping teams respond faster, reduce admin burden, and improve outcomes in high-volume services like elections, 911, courts, and human services.

A future-ready NSW Government depends on how well public servants and AI work together, not on people or technology alone. This week, Raffaele Marcelino, Executive Director, Learning and Teaching, Tafe NSW, Jane Lin, Executive Director Data, Strategy and Performance, Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport, Andrew Spiegelman, Head of Data & Analytics, Service NSW, Dan Bowes, Facilitator, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, TAFE NSW explore how AI is reshaping government roles through 2027 and beyond, boosting productivity by supporting frontline work rather than replacing it. Our guests so look at workforce readiness: how teams are starting to use AI, which skills are emerging or missing, and what practical upskilling is needed to build confidence and adoption—through targeted digital and data capability building.

In this episode, Lee Hickin, Executive Director, National AI Centre breaks down what responsible AI actually means for small to medium enterprises in Australia—and why vague advice is one of the biggest reasons SMEs hesitate to adopt. Through the work of the National AI Centre, the talk reframes "responsible" as something practical and achievable, not a heavyweight compliance exercise. You'll hear a simple approach to adoption built around the AI Six: clear accountability, basic risk and impact thinking, transparency at the right level, ongoing testing, and maintaining human control. The episode's core message is cultural: confidence comes from leadership setting clear expectations, investing in capability, and treating AI as "you + AI", not "you vs AI." Lee Hickin, Executive Director, National AI Centre